Recess Roastings: Oops…Democrats Roast Themselves?

Oops…Democrats Roast Themselves?
Obama Political Arm Does Some “Astroturf” Community Organizing, Sends Angry Constituents to Shout Down Their Own Members

Democrats Pledged to Play Offense to Sell Their Government Healthcare Takeover

“Faced with sagging approval for Democrats’ health care plans heading into the August recess, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Thursday that his party will have a more focused message buoyed by deals emerging from both the House and Senate….’We’re going to be on the air, we’re going to be in neighborhoods,’ he said. ‘We’re going to have a lot of help.’” (Steven T. Dennis, “Hoyer Says Democrats Going on Offense Over August,” Roll Call, 07/30/09)

Recess Roasting: Obama Team’s Health Care ‘Offensive’ Has Democrats in its Crosshairs

“Democratic lawmakers and their aides are frustrated with the Democratic National Committee and its Organizing for America arm because a campaign to deluge state and district offices with health care overhaul supporters has left many constituents mistakenly thinking they had appointments with their representatives.

“Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent first reported earlier Wednesday that California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s staff had flagged the issue for White House aides.

“But it turns out she’s just the tip of the iceberg. Democratic sources say lawmakers in both chambers and across the party’s ideological spectrum are frustrated because constituents — who in some cases drive long distances under the impression that they have a scheduled meeting — think their elected officials are dodging them.

“It can make lawmakers and staff who were unaware of the organized visits look bad. The level of frustration at the DNC folks — from mild annoyance to anger — varies by congressional office.” (Jonathan Allen, “Dems Ticked At Obama Office-Visit Rx,” CQ Politics, 08/12/09)

To read the full story, click here: http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/notepad/2009/08/dems-ticked-at-obama-officevis.html

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